Wrapping machine



H. E. TOWNSEND I WRAPPING MACHINE March 17, 1931;

Filed Dec. 9 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet l i 36 33/ V0 0 o i 44" 5E ,7 -48 m1; v I q V 8 -l lf /0 I i l 4 as I; t I 32 82 I30 l I 5 375 1, 44 INVENTOR. i #5.. Toms 55w Y if y f I TTORNEYS.

March 1'2, 1931.

H. E. TOWNSE ND 1,795,773

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 sheets sheet 2,

72 INVENTOR. r 7 ms. TOW/VSfND A TTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931. E, TOWNSEND 1,796,773

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. 5. TOW/VSt'A/D ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931. H. E. TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 9 1925 Hlllllllllflllllllll Illl [Ti A Rm 1 Rm w. h A Q3 A TTORNE Y5 Mmh 17, 1931. H. E: TOWNSEND 1,796,773

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 282 i I 00 .575 I 402 304 o .l' Ll W 30 I I M U l I 1 IN V EN TOR. f. TOW/Yfif/VD.

A TTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931. Towwg 1,796,773

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR. /7-- TOWNSEND.

A TTORNEYS.

17, 1931. E W D 1,796,773

WRAPPING MACHII' Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 lBS INVENTOR! m 5. TOWA/JLND A TTORNEYS March 17, 1931 TOWNSEND 1,796,773

WRAPPING MACHINE Fiied Dec. 9 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VEN TOR.

g: I F HE-TOh/NSi/VU A TTORNEYS.

March 17, 9 H. E. TOWNSEND WRAPEING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 9 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 M w u J T u E "mu N N E R MU W W m Q T W I 3% QM i H m w @c m dwe xw March 1 7-, 1931.

TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed Deg.

INVENTOR. 5-. TOM/NSL'ND ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931.

H. E TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Shets-Sheet 11 F iled Dec. 9, 1925 IN VEN TOR.

,1 5. TOWNSEND WM ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931 H. E. TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 IN VENTOR.

H- E- TOWNSEND ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1931. w. E. TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE 15 sheets-sheet 15 Filed Dec. 9, 1925' 1N VEN TOR. H 5. TOWNSEND BYZ / A TTURNEYS.

March 17, 1931.

H. E. TOWNSEND 1,796,773

WRPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-sheaf 14 INVENTOR H 5. TOW/VSi/YD ATTORNEYS March 17, 1931. H. E. TOWNSEND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 Illll lllllHllll IHEIIIIIH HIIIIHW v 91 I 1 46 k 1 m j L (I I l I I l I i l /2 5 E 72 l w i 2.5713 INVENTOR H. 5. TOWN END ATTORNEYS I Patented Mar. I7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. rownsann, or nnooxnnn'nnw'ronx WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed December My invention relates to machines for handling and wrapping articles, and has special reference to machines for wrapping hard candies and other articles that are in the form of circular disks.- An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is simple in 7 construction, and rapid and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to pro; vide a machine for wrapping a substantially cylindrical article, such as a roll of hard candies, in a novel and improved manner.

' Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved mechanism for handling articles such as hard candies that are in the form of circular disks.

With these and other objects in View, the features of the invention consist in certain constructions, arrangements, and cpmbina- 'tions of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be vious to those skilled in the art. The several features of the-invention will 23 be clearly understoodfrom the following descfiipfiion and accompanying drawings, 1n 'w 10 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view certain features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View partly diagrammatical of a portion of the article handling devices 7 of the machine and showing the articles in the position they assume as they are delivered to the machine;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical longitudinal sectional view of the same but showing the parts in a different position from that shown inFig.1; v v

Fig. 4 is a right side elevation on an en-' larged scale of the upper portion of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a similar view sideof the machine; 7

Fig. 6 is a sectional view tak' tially onfft'he line 6'-6 of Fig.- 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the of the upper portion ofa machine embodying 4., n substanline 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

- ticle in tucking in thelends o ends of the of the opposite 9, 1925. Serial No. 74,293.

Fig. 9 is atransverse sectional. view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4;

f Fig. 10 is a detail view in perspective, X

partly broken away, showing a part of the wrapper folding or tucking-in mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe lower portion of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16, are diagrammatical views of a portion of the wrapping mechanism and illustrating different steps as performed by. the machine in placing the wrapper about the peripheral surface of the roll of candies or other article;

Fig. 17 is a rearend elevation, partly diagrammatical of a portion of the wrapping mechanism shown as operating upon the arthe wrapper over the ends of the roll;

Fig. 18 is a view in perspective of the completed package; I Figs. 19 and 20 are detail face and side views, respectively, of an end tucking device 1 of the machine;

Figs. 21 to 25, inclusive, are views in perspective of one end portion of the article with the wrapper applied thereto, and showing successive steps as performed by the ma chine in folding or tucking in the projecting wrapper over the ends of the'article; I

Fig. 26 is a side elevation of a mechanism for connecting the wrapping machine with another wrapping machine for placing a second wrapper about the article, the two machines being indicated by'broken lines;

Fig. 27 is a longitudinal sectional ,view, partly diagrammatlcal, illustrating another form of wrapping mechanism that may be e ye Fig. 28 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 27,. showing the position of certain parts of the wrapping mechanism at another stagein the wrapping. operation; 1

Fig. 29 is a rear elevation, partly diagramand wrapping artic matical, of a portion of the wrapping mechai engagement with the upper portlon of the nismillustrated in Fig. 27

Fig. 30 is a sectional elevation showing an-.

other form of mechanism for delivering'the 5 articles'to the machine;

Fig. 31 is a rear elevation with certain parts removed of themechanism illustrated.

in Fig. 30; and

Fig. 32 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 32-32 of Fig. 30. f

The machine illustrated in the drawings is particularly ada' ted for use in handling lbs-2 such as hard candies that are in the form of circular disks. As shown, the articles are supplied to the machine'from downwardly inclined raceways or chutes 4 which are arranged side by side, the articles in each chute being arranged one behind the other. Suitable devices, including an escapement 6 are provided for causing the lowermost articles in the several chutes to be removed therefrom and to advance downwardly by gravity against a stop member 8. Because ofrthe thickness of the walls between dlstance apart, as shown in Fig. 2, but before they have'a chance to topple over, collector 3o fingers 10 (Figs. 1 and 9) are advanced toward each other and by engagement with the endmost articles of the row bring the several articles together. While the row of articles is thus held by the collector fingers 1 0, gripthe row of articles to. the wrapping mechanism of the machine. This wrapping mecha: nism comprises-upper and lower wrapping rolls 14 and 16, respectively,-which are arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart, the gripping jaws positioning the row of articles between the wrapping'rolls with the axis of the row substantially in the plane of the'axes of the rolls. During the first part of this transfer movement of the row of articles from the station adjacent the stop 8 to the wrapping rolls, a strip of paper or I otherwrapping material is fed downwardly from a roll 17 bymeans of feed rolls 18 so as to position the lower end portion of the strip across the path of movement of the row of articles and in proximity to the wrapping rolls 14 .and 16. Before the row of articles reaches the strip of wrapping materials, a sheet 19 of suitable size to form the wrapper for the row of articles is cutofl' from the strip by shearing blades 20 and 21, the lower portion of the severed wrapper being sup- Tported in upright position in a suitably arthe several chutes, the articles thus positioned v a ainst the stop member 8 are spaced some ping jaws 12 advance .and grip the ends of moved upwardly and forwardly to present ranged basket 22. Therow'of articles upon row passes. The row of articles is held in position betweenthe wrapping rolls by re taining fingers 25 which advance toward each other into engagement withthe ends of the row. After the row of articlesis positioned between the wrapping rolls, the member 23 acts to tuck in the upper edge portion of the wrapper over the back of the row of articles.

As this upper edge portion of the wrapper is I being tucked in, retaining rolls 26 and 28 are brought downwardly so as to engage opposite sides of theperipheral portion of the row of articles and wrapper in proximity to the upper wrapping rolls 14. The wrapping rolls 14 and 16 are then rotated in a counterclockwise direction so as to rotate the row of articles and its wrapper-in a-clocl wise direction 'and thus cause the wrapper to be tightly wrapped about the peripheral surface of the articles. Preferably, the wrapper is of suitable length and the rowof articles is rotated a suflicient number of timesto causethe wrapper to be wound slightly more than twice around the row. When the wrapper has thus been applied, devices 30' act to tuck in the ends of the wrapper over the ends of the'row to coniplete the-wrapping operation. ;A second pair of gripping jaws 32 (Fig. 26) are then advanced to engage the ends of the package thus formed and to convey the completed package from the wr'apping'mecha'nism', the retaining rolls 26. and 23 being retracted as the gripping jaws advance into engagement with the package, and the'upper roll 14 being retracted from the package previously to the removal of the package from the wrapping rolls.

The escapement 6 comprises a-bar that extends transversely over the lower end por-.

tionsof the chutes and is provided with -depending ears on its ends that are secured on pivot shaft 34 which extend through pivot slightly greater than the radius of the articles.

I The stop member 8 is arranged above and across the bottom plate 38, and is secured on a pivot shaft 40 which extends'through bearings in the upper ends of upstanding cars 42 on the plate 38.

With theparts in the position shown in Fig. 1, a row of articles is positioned against the stop member 8, and the escapement 6 is in engagement with the lowermost articles in the several chutes so as to holdthem back. After the collector fingers 10 have acted to bring the articles in the row together, and the gripping jaws 12 have acted to remove the row to convey it to the wrapping mechanism, the escapement 6 is swung downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, which permits the articles in the several chutes to advance by gravity until the lowermost articles engage the curved under surface of the escape ment, and simultaneously with such move-.

ment of the escapement the stop member 8 is swung upwardly out of stopping position. This retracting movement of the stop member 8 is for the purpose of permitting the row of articles to be discharged from the machine in case the gripping jaws fail to remove them, the gripping aws being so con structed that they will only engage and remove the row of articles when there are a certain number of articles in the row. A'suitable discharge chute, not shown, may be provided to receive the articles that are thus re leased bythe stop member 8 and to convey them from thema chine. After the escapement 6 and stop member 8 have remained'in theposition shown in Fig. 3 a sufficient length of time to permit the lowermost articles in the several chutes to advance by gravity into engagement with the under side of the escapement, the escapement and stop member 8 are simultaneously returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, this movement of the escapem'ent releasing the lowermost articles in the chutes so as to permit'them to advance into engagement with the stop member, and engaging the lowermost articles remaining in the chutes sojas to hold them back.

The escapement 6 and. stop member 8 are actuated by means of rods 44 and. 46 having their upper ends pivotally connected with arms 48 and 50 secured to one of the pivot shafts 34 of the escapement and to the pivot shaft 40 of the stop member 8, respectively. The lower ends of the rods 44 and 46 (Fig. 12) are both pivotally connected with one end of a lever 52 which is pivotally mount- .ed on a hanger 54 secured to a base plate 56 of the frame of the machine, and has a cam roll 58 on its other end that engages a cam 6'0 carried by a shaft 62. The shaft 62 is journaled in suitable bearings inthe machine I frame and-is continuously driven by the main driving shaft 64 of the machine through bevel gears '66 secured on the shafts,respectively. --The collector fingers 10 (Figs. 1 and 9) for bringing the articles together after they are advanced into position against the stop member ,8, are provided with narrow heads 68 which are arrangedtransverse'l'y at right angles to the supporting plate 38, and their inner or article engaging surfaces are inclined slightly downwardly and outwardly so that when they engage the ends of the row of ar ticles they apply a slightly greater pressure at the upper portion of the rowthan at the lower portion, and thus tend to cause the articles to tightly bear upon the supporting plate 38. This is particularly advantageous in case the sides of the articles are slightly convex which frequently occurs with hard candies.

The collector fingers 10 are mounted to slide toward and from each other on the support ing plate38'and are guided by suitable bearings 7 0 secured on the plate. The fingers are adapted to be thus actuated to engage and disengage the ends of the row of articles in proper timed relation to the operation ofthe other article handling devices, by means of an upstanding-rocker arm 72. The left hand collector finger 10, viewing Fig. 9, is directly secured to the rocker arm 72 by means of a reduced end portion 74 thereof which ex- "tends through an aperture in the rocker arm,

and held in position bymeans of a shoulder 76 thereof engaging one side of the rocker arm and nuts 78 screw-threaded on the outer end thereof against the outer side of the rocker arm. The connection between the other collector finger 10 and the rocker arm comprisesa rod 80 which is secured to the outer end of the finger and extends through lever. [A spring 94 is coiled about the rod 90, and is interposed between a collar 96 secured on the rod and the lower end of the lever 84, the spring tending to hold the lower end of the lever against abutment nuts 98 secured on the end of the rod. With this construction, upon movement of the rocker arm 7 2 in a clockwise direction, viewing F ig. 9, the collector fingers 10 will be moved to- Ward each other, the left hand collector finger being positively moved by the rocker arm, and the other finger being yieldingly moved through the coiled spring 94. The rocker arm 72 extends through an aperture in the base plate 56 and is pivotally mounted at 100 on a bracket member de ending from the base plate, and its lower end (Figs. 12 and 13) is provided with a cam roll 102 that engages a suitable cam 104 carried by the driven shaft 62, the cam roll being held against the cam surface by. means of a coiled the ends of the row of articles previously to the retraction of the fingers. These gripping jaws are mounted upon a block 108 (Fig. 9)

which has upstanding ears 110 that are secured on a pivot pin or shaft 112 which eX- tends through and is pivotally mounted in a bearing in the rear end of one arm of a carrier lever 114. The left hand gripping jaw viewing Fig. 9, is rigidly secured to the supporting block 108 by a screw 116, and

the other gripping aw is secured on one end of a pin 118 which extends through and is mounted to slide in apertures in said upstanding ears 110 The pin 118 is pressed in adirection to move the right hand j aw toward the other jaw,.by means of a spring 120 coiled about the pin and interposed between acol- .lar 122 secured on the pin, and the inner side of the right hand ear 110. The movable jaw 12 is held from turning movement by means of a pin 124 secured thereto which extends into a guiding groove in the under side of the supporting block 108. The movement of the jaw by the action of the spring 120 is limited by the engagement thereof with the side of the block. During the movement of the jaws into position to permit them to engage the ends of the row of articles, the outer end of the jaw carrying pin 118 engages a suitably inclined surface on a cam plate 126 secured to the upper end of the rocker arm 72, which causes thepin to be forced in a direction to move the right jaw away from the other jaw, so as to permit the two jaws to pass across the ends of the row of articles.

When they have reached the limit of this movement the rocker arm 72 and the cam plate 126 carried thereby are'retracted to permit the jaws to close upon the ends of the 'row. As the rocker arm 72 is thus re tracted the collector fingers 10 are moved thereby out of engagement with the row of articles as the row is gripped by the jaws.

In case there are less than the desired number of articles in the row, the gripping movement of themovable aw is arrested-by the" engagement thereof with the side of the sup-' portingblock 108 so that it will not move in sufficiently to engage the short row of artie cles and thus the jaws will not remove'the row, but they will continue their cycle of 4 operations.

The carrier lever 114 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 128 which is supported and journaled in suitable hearings in side frames 130 mounted upon the base plate 56. A bell crank 132 is pivotally mounted, at 134 on the rear 01' jaw carrying arm of the lever 114. One arm of this bell crank 132 is protively engages apinion. 138 secured on one end of the pivot shaft 112. The other arm of this bell crank 132 carries a cam roll 140 which engages a cam, groove 142 in a bracket secured to one of the side frames 130. The

cam groove 142 is so shaped that during the upward movement of the carrier-of the lever arm 114 and after the row of articles carried by the gripping jaws has'passed a distance above the supporting plate 38, the bell crank 132 is turned in a direction to act through the pinion 138 to turn the supporting block 108 and the gripping aws carried thereby in a clockwisedirection to substantially reverse the position of the j aws, and during the continued movement of said, lever the jaws are vided with a gear segment 136that operaadvanced substantially in a horizontal plane to position the row of articles between the wrapping rolls 14 and 16.

It will be apparent that during thereturn.

movement of the carrier lever 114, the gripping jaws traverse the same path as during their advancing or article conveying move-.

inent.

' The carrier lever 114 is connected through alink or rod 144 with one end ofa cam lever 146 (Figs. 12 and 13) pivotally mounted on the machine frame and provided with a cam roll 148which engages the groove of a cam 150 carried by a shaft 152. The shaft 152 is journaled in bearings in the machine frame, parallel with the shaft62, and is connected with the main drive shaft 64 through bevel gears 154 secured on the two shafts, respectively.-

The roll 17 of wrapping material (Figs. 1"

and 11) 'is carriedbyaspool 156 which is suitably mounted for rotary movement upon a stud shaft 158 secured to a bracket at the upper end of one of the uprights or side frames 130. The spool and roll is prevented 'from overrunning by means-of anysuitable tensioning device 159 engaging the spool.

The strip of wrapping material'is drawn from the roll and passed downwardly over a suitable guide roll 160 and'between the feed rolls 18 and the cutting off knives 20 and 21. The feed rolls 18 are secured on shafts 162 and 163. The shaft 162 is journaled in fixed bearings in the side frames 130.

The shaft 163 is journaled in hearings in the upper ends of supporting arms 164 that are pivotally mounted on shafts 166 which extend through bearings on the side frames 130. A hand-operated. lever 168 (Figs. 5

and 11) is pivotally mounted upon the upper end of each ofthe supporting arms 164 and a link 170 has one end pivotally connected with the lever 168 midway of its ends and its other end pivotally connected with a bell crank 172 pivotally mounted on the side frame 130. A coiled spring 174 tends to turn the bell crank 172 in a counter clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 5. With this I construction, when the hand operated levers shown in Fig. the links 17 0 are positioned 168 are swung downwardly into the position 7 below the pivotal connections between the levers 168 and the supporting arms' 164, which permit the springs 174 to act through the bell cranks 172, links 17 0 and levers- 168 to turn the supporting arms 164 in a direc tion to press the movable feed roll toward the other roll. A laterally projecting pin 176 on each of the levers 168 enters a notch on the under side ofthe link 170to lock the link and lever together when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5. The feed rolls may be separated by merely swinging upwardly the hand-operated levers 168.

' 'Pinions 180 are'secured on the left hand ends of the feed roll shafts 162 and 163. The

184,." The: pinion 180 on the movable pinion on the feedxroll shaft 162 engages an idle gear 182 which in turn engages a. gear eed roll shaft 163-engages a pinion 1861which is looselymountedon the right h-andpivot' shaft 166 of the feed roll supporting arm, and this pinion'in tur'n engages said idle gear 182., It will be apparent thatfupon rotation of the gear 184, the-two feed roll shafts 162 and 163 may be, rotated in opposite directions to feed. the stripzof wrappingrmaterial between them, and also that the construction is such as to permit the feed'rolls to be separated, by swinging the hand-operated levers 168,11pwardly without disengaging the movable feed roll from its driving mechanism.

The gear 184 is secured on the outer end of a shaft 188" which extends through and is journaled in a bearing" in the side frame 130. Ana'rm 190 (Fig. 1)' is secured upon theinner end of the shaft 188 and carries a 'pa'wl 192 which is pressed by a spring 194 into engagement with a ratchet wheel 196. This ratchet wheel 196 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 188 and iscarried by a gear 198 which is operatively engaged by a rack ,Thrack 200 extends downwardly through an opening in'the base plate-56 of the ma chine-frame and its lower end is connected. by a short link 204 with one end of a cam lever'206 pivotally mounted on the machine f raine and carrying on its other end a cam i'oll 208 that engages a cam groove in a cam' carried by the shaft 152.

The strip of wra ping material isguided during its assage'i the cutting off knives 20'and 21 by means of vertical guide wires 212 which have their upper ends received in annular. grooves in the feed rolls and their lower ends secured to plates 214 which in turn are suitably secured to a supporting bar 216 that extends between and-is secured to the side frames 130.

- The shearing blade 20 is rigidly-secured to the under side of a block 218 which in turn is' securedto the under side of the transverse supporting bar 216. Thecooperatin blade or-knife 21 (Figs. 4 and 7 extends t, rough an opening in the right hand side frame 130 and is pivotally' mounted on the lower end of a vertical pivot pin '220 which extends upwardly through a bearing block 222 secured on the outer side ofthe side frame. The pivot pin 220 is urged upwardly by a spring 224 coiled about the, pin and interposed between the upper'end'of the block 222 and nuts 226, screw-threaded on the upper end of the *pin. The'knife 21 is adapted to be turned about the pivot pin 220 to cause it to cooperate with the statlonary knife 20, by means of a horizontal bar 228 which is mounted to slide in suitable bearings on the inner side of the sideffra'me 130. The bar 228 is connected. with the cutting off knife by means of a bolt230 which has its lower end secured to the blade, and extends through an aperture in the forward end of the sliding bar. A spring 232'is coiled about the bolt 230 and is interposed between the top side of the bar 228 and nuts' 234 onthe upperend of the bolt. The two springs 224 and 232 tend to press the lower knife blade 21 upwardly rom the feed rolls 18 to against the other blade." During the cutting off movement of the lower knife blade, the upper end of a pin'or screw 236 rides ,onan inclined surface 238 on the lower end ofthe bearing block 222 so as to tend to cause clearance at the outer ends of the blades and thus.

permit cutting pressure at the inner ends of the blades. r

The sliding bar228 is reciprocated too en and close the cutting oif knives by means 0 an arm 240 havingits upper end connected with the bar through a pin and slot connection, and

its lower endsecured' tothe inner end of a pivot shaft 242 which extends through a b'earing in a bracket 244 secured on the s1de frame 130. An arm 246 is secured on the outer end of the shaft 242 and is connected by a. rod

'or link 247 with one end of a lever 248 pivoted on the side frame and carrying a cam roll 250 that engages a cam, 252 carried by the outer endof the shaft 128. The cam roll is held in engagement with the cam by means of a spring 254 coiled about the link or rod 247 and interposed between a nut 256 secured on 'the'rodand a bracket member 258 secured to the side frame and having a slot through which the rod or link slides. 

